How to Write 甘 (sweet, coax, pamper, be content, sugary) — Stroke Order, Readings & Printable Worksheet
Master the 5-stroke writing sequence of the JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) character 甘 (“sweet, coax, pamper, be content, sugary”), indexed under the 甘 (あまい (sweet)) radical. Practice 甘 alongside high-frequency Japanese Jukugo compounds such as 甘い (あまい (amai) — sweet), 甘える (あまえる (amaeru) — sweet).
🔍 Radical & Component Breakdown (甘)
Primary Radical (部首): 甘 — あまい (sweet)
Radical Position: Standalone / Integrated (部首)
Semantic Theme: Radical 甘
Curriculum & Reading Usage: Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生) (JLPT N2). Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カン) when 甘 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あま.い, あま.える, あま.やかす, うま.い) when 甘 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings.
Genkō Yōshi Proportions (5画): With only 5 strokes, 甘 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 甘 (あまい (sweet)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
📜 Etymology & Mnemonic Insight (六書 / Rikusho)
Radical: 甘 (あまい (sweet))
Standard Jouyou kanji written with 5 strokes under radical 甘.
Common Japanese Words & Jukugo Using 甘
Frequently Asked Questions About Kanji 甘 (FAQ)
How many strokes are in 甘 and how is it structured?
The Japanese character 甘 ("sweet, coax, pamper, be content, sugary") is written with 5 strokes (5画) as a JLPT N2 (Kyōiku Kanji Grade 8 (小学8年生)) foundational low-stroke shape (1–5 strokes) indexed under the 甘 (あまい (sweet)) radical. With only 5 strokes, 甘 is a foundational shape where center-of-gravity alignment on the Genkō Yōshi (原稿用紙) crosshairs is immediately visible. Anchor the 甘 (あまい (sweet)) structure (Standalone / Integrated position) cleanly around the center intersection and finish terminal strokes with crisp tome (stop) or harai (sweep) release.
What are the Onyomi, Kunyomi, and Jukugo words for 甘?
For 甘 (JLPT N2), the Onyomi is カン and the Kunyomi is あま.い, あま.える, あま.やかす, うま.い. Use the Sino-Japanese Onyomi (カン) when 甘 combines with other Kanji in multi-character Jukugo compounds, and use the native Japanese Kunyomi (あま.い, あま.える, あま.やかす, うま.い) when 甘 appears as a standalone noun or with Hiragana okurigana endings. High-frequency Japanese vocabulary using 甘 includes 甘い (あまい (amai) — sweet), 甘える (あまえる (amaeru) — sweet).
What is the stroke order rule for writing 甘 on Genkō Yōshi paper?
When writing the 5 strokes of 甘 (sweet, coax, pamper, be content, sugary), start with the 甘 (あまい (sweet)) in the Standalone / Integrated (部首) position and follow standard Japanese Hitsujun (筆順) principles: top to bottom (上から下) and left to right (左から右). Practice 甘 interactively on the Kanji Scribe canvas or print a free A4 Genkō Yōshi PDF worksheet.
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